Author: chicagoinquirer

by Larry Lage DETROIT  — Chauncey Billups earned a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame a year ago, recognizing his resilience and clutch play in a championship-winning NBA career. His ability to bounce back and make all the right moves is being put to an entirely different test by a gambling scandal. Billups, who was placed on leave as coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was one of more than 30 people arrested last week for what federal law enforcement officials described as their involvement in various illicit gambling activities. The coach was alleged to have participated in a…

 by Kevin Freking and Stephen Groves WASHINGTON  — The pressure to end the second-longest federal government shutdown is gaining new urgency this week as millions of Americans face the prospect of losing food assistance, more federal workers miss their first full paycheck and recurring delays at airports snarl travel plans. The building strain on lawmakers to end the impasse was magnified by the nation’s largest federal employee union, which called on Congress to immediately pass a funding bill and ensure workers receive full pay. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said the two political parties have…

by Matt Calson CHICAGO  — Ayo Dosunmu scored 21 points, Josh Giddey had 18 points and 13 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls rallied to top the Atlanta Hawks 128-123 on Monday night. Nikola Vucevic had 17 points and 17 rebounds as Chicago came back from an early 13-point deficit to improved to 3-0, its best start in four years. Kristaps Porzingis scored 27 points and Jalen Johnson added 25 in their return to the the Hawks lineup, but Atlanta dropped its second straight and the first of a four game trip to fall to 1-3. Trae Young had 21 points…

by Joey Cappelletti  and Ali  Swenson WASHINGTON (AP) — The first caller on a telephone town hall with Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, leader of the House’s conservative Freedom Caucus, came ready with a question about the Affordable Care Act. Her cousin’s disabled son is at risk of losing the insurance he gained under that law, the caller said. “Now she’s looking at two or three times the premium that she’s been paying for the insurance,” said the woman, identified as Lisa from Harford County, Maryland. “I’d love for you to elucidate what the Republicans’ plan is for health insurance?” Harris,…

by Adriana Gomez Licon Former President Joe Biden called these “dark days” as he urged Americans to stay optimistic and not to check out in response to what he says are attacks on free speech and tests on the limits of executive power by President Donald Trump. “Since its founding, America served as a beacon for the most powerful idea ever in government in the history of the world,” Biden said. “The idea is stronger than any army. We’re more powerful than any dictator.” Biden, 82, speaking publicly for the first time since completing a round of radiation therapy for…

by David Ginsburg BALTIMORE  — The Chicago Bears’ four-game winning streak is over, mainly because of their inability to tap into their usual formula for success against the Baltimore Ravens. Chicago put together its longest victory run since 2018 by forcing turnovers, running effectively and playing solid defense in the fourth quarter. None of that happened on Sunday. Throw in an inordinate amount of penalties — several of the pre-snap variety — and it’s no wonder the Bears’ exhilarating winning streak ended with a 30-16 defeat. Chicago came in with an NFL-best plus-11 turnover differential and had forced at least…

ORLANDO, Fla. — Josh Giddey had 21 points and eight rebounds, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Orlando Magic 110-98 on Saturday night for a 2-0 start. Jalen Smith added 16 points for the Bulls, one of their four players off the bench in double figures. Ayo Dosunmu and Nikola Vucevic each finished with 15 points. Paolo Banchero scored 24 points for the Magic, who were a woeful 3 for 24 (12.5%) from 3-point range. Orlando shot 39% overall and fell to 1-2. Banchero also grabbed 10 rebounds but shot just 7 for 21. Anthony Black added 19 points and…

by Dyepkazah Shibayan ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria’s president on Friday replaced top security officials as the West African country grapples with unabated violence in the conflict-hit north and myriad security challenges. No reason was given but the shake-up comes as the government has denied rumors of a coup plot in the wake of local media reports that at least 20 military officers were arrested in September, including a brigadier general and a colonel. Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, was also shaken by protests this week as police fired tear gasand arrested dozens of protesters who took to the streets to demand…

by Alanna Durkin Richer, Tim Reynolds and Philip Marcelo NEW YORK (AP) — Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested Thursday along with more than 30 other people accused of participating in schemes involving illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by the Mafia, authorities said. Rozier is accused in participating in an illegal sports betting scheme using private insider NBA information, officials said. Billups is charged in a separate indictment alleging a wide-ranging scheme to rig underground poker games that were backed by Mafia families, authorities said. Both men face…

by Schuyler Dixon DALLAS  — Victor Wembanyama dunked on Cooper Flagg’s debut. And shot over it. And dribbled around it. And reminded everyone what was missing the last two months of the French star’s second season. Wembanyama wowed the Dallas crowd, and had a noisy San Antonio contingent chanting “M-V-P! M-V-P!” in a season opener, getting 40 points and 15 rebounds in the Spurs’ 125-92 rout of the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night. Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, was the talk of the Dallas opener going in. Coming out, the talk was Wembanyama, who offered quite the reminder that…